Enrolling at Heaven Dou Academy, Luring Dugu Yan

"Qingya, everything is arranged. A carriage will take you to Heaven Dou Royal Academy tomorrow morning."

"Once you arrive, Lingling will take you to the academic affairs office to register."

Having just finished handling the family's affairs, Ye Han came to Duan Qingya's room and explained the itinerary to him.

"All right. But Teacher Ye, I heard from Steward Ye and the others that Boss Ling was your final disciple?"

"Yes. During my travels across the continent, I met many people and took in many disciples. Ling Zhi was the last."

At Duan Qingya's question, a nostalgic look crossed Ye Han's face.

"If Boss Ling was the disciple who closed your doors, Teacher Ye, then what am I? You can't have two final disciples!"

"Hahaha, you can be the disciple who locks the doors!"

The next morning, at dawn.

After learning the previous night that he would be going to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Duan Qingya had prepared several kinds of potions and packed dozens of medicinal herbs.

"Redblood Ginseng really is potent. Even with Azure Chi's current physique, I have to dilute it into five bottles before he can take it."

By the light coming through the carriage window, Duan Qingya swirled the pomegranate-juice-colored Blood and Qi Fortifying Potion in his hand, then glanced at the sleeping Azure Chi.

Under the stimulating effects of these bottles of Blood and Qi Fortifying Potion, a reverse scale had now grown seven inches down Azure Chi's body.

"Still, simply strengthening his body with potions isn't doing much anymore. Next, I need to give Azure Chi the ability to fly and a dragon bloodline."

After some thought, Duan Qingya ultimately decided to give Azure Chi the ability to fly first. Adding a Dragon Bloodline at this stage would offer little benefit.

"Among snake soul beasts with strong flying abilities, the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent is pretty much the only choice. I'll head to Star Dou Forest and kill one when the time comes."

"But it definitely can't be younger than two thousand years. After taking potions made from whale rubber over the past few years, I should be able to absorb a two-thousand-year Soul Ring."

"You're Dad's new door-locking disciple?"

Ye Lingling studied Duan Qingya with an impassive expression, a little curiosity stirring within her. She knew her father's temperament well.

He had not taken a disciple in over a decade, which meant he would not take any in the future either—unless something made him break his own rule.

This person named Duan Qingya definitely had some secrets.

"You must be Teacher Ye's daughter, Ye Lingling! Nice to meet you. My name is Duan Qingya."

In response to Duan Qingya's greeting, Ye Lingling nodded to acknowledge him, then turned and walked into the campus.

"Mm. Stay close to me. I'll show you around the campus. As for the academic affairs office, you don't need to go. I've sent someone to handle it for you."

Following Ye Lingling, Duan Qingya witnessed Heaven Dou Royal Academy's extravagant wealth.

The gardens on either side were planted with all sorts of expensive, rare flowers and grasses, exuding an air of opulent elegance.

The Blue Wind Grass that Duan Qingya had only managed to buy through sheer luck was now used as filler in several gardens, as though it were no more than weeds.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy's library had five floors, housing all the books accumulated by the Heaven Dou Empire over hundreds of years.

"All right, you've seen most of the academy's buildings. Now I'll take you to meet my teammates."

Ye Lingling stopped in front of Heaven Dou Royal Academy's training grounds and quietly said a few words to Duan Qingya.

Learning that Ye Lingling intended to introduce him to Dugu Yan and the others, Duan Qingya was naturally willing. This was one of the few ways he could get close to Dugu Yan.

As for why he wanted to get close to Dugu Yan, that was naturally thanks to the allure of the top entry on Douluo's must-eat list!

"Lingling, you're finally back! The Shi Brothers couldn't withstand Tian Heng's attacks after his Dragon Transformation just now. They were injured and need you to heal them."

Seeing Ye Lingling return, Dugu Yan immediately tossed aside the bandages in her hands and ran over to her.

At those words, Ye Lingling glanced at the bandage-wrapped Shi Brothers and sighed helplessly.

With a raise of Ye Lingling's hand, a pink nine-heart begonia appeared in her palm, and two leaves drifted gently onto the Shi Brothers.

"Ye Lingling, thank you!"

Their bodies instantly restored, the Shi Brothers hurriedly tore off their crookedly wrapped bandages and thanked Ye Lingling in unison.

"Lingling, is this your father's new disciple?"

Once Ye Lingling had finished healing them, Dugu Yan turned her gaze to Duan Qingya.

"His name is Duan Qingya. He's a rank twenty-six Control-Type Battle Spirit Master, and his martial soul is an azure snake."

Ye Lingling put away her nine-heart begonia and stepped aside, bringing Duan Qingya into everyone's view.

After hearing Ye Lingling's introduction, Dugu Yan, who had not taken the stage for a match lately, suddenly felt her hands itch for action. She wanted to spar with Duan Qingya.

"What a coincidence! My martial soul is a snake too, and I'm also a control type. How about a match?"

"Sure, but a plain match would be boring! I heard from Ye Lingling that you get to use the Mimicry Training Ground for free."

"How about giving me your free training slot for a month if I win?"

Duan Qingya had originally wanted to wager some precious medicinal herbs with Dugu Yan, but on second thought, as long as he got her to bite and drew out Dugu Bo, he would not lack medicinal herbs for the time being.

Hearing that there would be stakes, Dugu Yan grew even more excited.

"Then if you lose, you'll be my lackey for a month and run errands and bring me food every day!"

With the stakes settled, the two walked onto the sparring arena together.

"Ye Lingling, are you sure this won't be dangerous? Yan'er's poison is no joke."

Watching the pair on the stage, Yu Tianheng frowned slightly and spoke to the expressionless Ye Lingling beside him.

Hearing Yu Tianheng's words, Ye Lingling remained indifferent and gave him a brief reply.

"He made his own choice. He can bear the consequences."

Yu Tianheng had assumed that Ye Lingling would treat her father's disciple a little more warmly. He had never expected her attitude toward Duan Qingya to be even colder than toward her teammates.

"Little brother, if you can't take it, remember to surrender in time. Breathing in too much of my poison isn't good for your health!"

Dugu Yan took a step forward and completed her Martial Soul Possession, three Soul Rings appearing beneath her.

Duan Qingya had never liked trading trash talk before a fight. He summoned Azure Chi and attacked Dugu Yan directly.

"What an impatient fellow!"

At Duan Qingya ignoring her and attacking outright, Dugu Yan chuckled and exhaled a cloud of poisonous mist that drifted toward him.

Faced with the poisonous mist, Azure Chi did not hesitate in the slightest. He plunged straight into it and continued charging toward Dugu Yan.

Thanks to the potions made from Azure-Scaled Snake King and crimson practice snake, Azure Chi might not have been impervious to every poison, but he was now immune to the vast majority.

Seeing Duan Qingya's martial soul charge into her poisonous mist without the slightest pause, Dugu Yan was genuinely startled.

The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor could be considered one of the strongest venomous snakes in existence. She had never expected Duan Qingya's azure snake martial soul to be unaffected by its poison.

Azure Chi, use Iron Tail!

Once Azure Chi was almost within striking range, Duan Qingya immediately unleashed his Self-Created Soul Skill.

Azure Chi gathered soul power in his tail, then leaped up and brought it slashing down toward Dugu Yan.

Bang!

Relying on her instinctive reflexes, Dugu Yan barely managed to dodge Azure Chi's Iron Tail.

Looking at the shallow mark on the ground, Dugu Yan turned incredulous eyes toward Duan Qingya. He clearly had not activated his Soul Skill just now!

"A Self-Created Soul Skill! Ye Lingling, your father's disciple really is something!"

Since the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's Dragon Transformation was also a Self-Created Soul Skill, Yu Tianheng naturally recognized at a glance that Duan Qingya had used one too.

At that moment, even the previously indifferent Ye Lingling was shocked by Duan Qingya. She had never expected him to possess such talent.

In her father's letter, he had only said that Duan Qingya possessed a talent for potion-making far beyond ordinary people. He had never mentioned that his talent as a soul master was equally astonishing!